Felix Rosenqvist and Will Power walked away from the Grand Prix of Portland with second- and third-place podium finishes, but their post-race focus remained squarely on traffic nightmares, with both drivers taking aim at IndyCar's approach to backmarkers.
Rosenqvist started on pole in the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda, commanding the early pace and leading 33 laps. However, a combination of a tight exit from his pit box near rookie Mick Schumacher's crew and an overcut strategy by winner Alex Palou relegated him to second position.
While acknowledging Palou's strong pace on the primary tires, Rosenqvist pulled no punches regarding lapped cars holding up race leaders.
"(Palou) just drove better, to be honest," Rosenqvist said. "Not a lot quicker, but he was a little bit quicker, especially on the blacks. That first stint he outsmarted us, did one lap longer. I didn't know he did that, so maybe we need to work on communication. I don't think I could have kept up with that pace he did anyways, if I saved that much fuel."
Rosenqvist also criticised the lapped traffic he and Palou encountered before their final stops. Both lost time behind Louis Foster, who had recently emerged from the pits on fresh tyres.
#lapped #power
Rosenqvist started on pole in the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda, commanding the early pace and leading 33 laps. However, a combination of a tight exit from his pit box near rookie Mick Schumacher's crew and an overcut strategy by winner Alex Palou relegated him to second position.
While acknowledging Palou's strong pace on the primary tires, Rosenqvist pulled no punches regarding lapped cars holding up race leaders.
"(Palou) just drove better, to be honest," Rosenqvist said. "Not a lot quicker, but he was a little bit quicker, especially on the blacks. That first stint he outsmarted us, did one lap longer. I didn't know he did that, so maybe we need to work on communication. I don't think I could have kept up with that pace he did anyways, if I saved that much fuel."
Rosenqvist also criticised the lapped traffic he and Palou encountered before their final stops. Both lost time behind Louis Foster, who had recently emerged from the pits on fresh tyres.
#lapped #power
3 months ago
